Context 

This course material was originally produced for – and used by – teachers and students at Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts, today known as Rukmini Devi College Of Fine Arts. 

A two week long voice culture course was offered at the request of its Founder-Director, Rukmini Devi (1904-1986) when introduced to the renowned singer and voice trainer, Friedrich Brueckner-Rueggeberg in 1982. 

This project was conceived on the basis of earlier experiences, namely that Indian singers would benefit from time-proven as well as modern methods such as described here, mainly in order to prevent injury caused by mechanical practice (e.g. a lack of awareness that a pupil's vocal range, breathing and posture should be taken into account).

The method described here is oriented towards "intercultural learning" which explains why it has since been adopted by several voice coaches from all over India, be it for "classical" singing or otherwise. 

It has also been adapted for a major chapter on vocal music in The Oxford Illustrated Companion To South Indian Classical Music by Ludwig Pesch (Oxford University Press, in print since 1999, 2nd rev. ed. 2009). Related (free) contents is found on the author's websites: 

www.carnaticstudent.org 

www.aiume.org

Biography

Prof. Friedrich Brückner-Rüggeberg taught singing at Hochschule für Musik Freiburg from 1965 to 1980

30 December 1915 (Graz, Austria) - 15 October 2003 Waterford (Ireland)

Friedrich Brückner-Rüggeberg hailed from an artist family. Having studied in Nuremberg and Berlin, he sang in concert halls all over Germany and beyond while building a reputation as interpreter of Heinrich Schütz and Claudio Monteverdi. Endowed with a lyrical tenor, he sang for radio programs and recordings featuring early music. He founded the Süddeutsche Kammervokalquartett and the Capella Monacensis, an ensemble for early music, consisting of singers and instrumentalists exploring medieval court music. 

His career as vocal teacher led him to the renowned Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (Germany) culminating in his appointment as professor. After his retirement, he moved to Ireland.

Credits

The Chennai branch of the Goethe Institut (German cultural institute, better known as Max Mueller Bhavan) sponsored Friedrich Brueckner-Rueggeberg and his senior disciple Peter Calatin to conduct the voice training course hosted by Kalakshetra in 1983 for which the present contents was created.

First published by K. Sankara Menon and edited by Shakuntala Ramani in Kalakshetra Quarterly Vol. V, No. 3 (Chennai, 1983).

Co-author, translator and researcher (adaptation to the Indian context including illustration and photography): Ludwig Pesch – the author's former student at Hochschule für Musik Freiburg – then a student of Kalakshetra College.

Illustration (graphics): A. Mai

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